Jenkins - Hook looks the part

Record-breaking outside-half Neil Jenkins believes the Welsh tradition of producing great fly-halves is still flourishing after James Hook emerged as an impressive new talent at the weekend.

Jenkins is Wales' second-highest cap holder with 87 and scored a world record of 1,049 points in the number 10 role between 1991 and 2002, but even he is impressed with the new wonder boy of Welsh rugby.

"I don't think anything seems to faze him at this moment in time," said Jenkins. "His all-round game is fantastic. He gets the back line going very well, he has fantastic hands and is defensively strong, as he showed with the tackle on (Lote) Tuqiri, and also his kicking is excellent."

The British and Irish Lions star insists that 21-year-old Hook, who is set to be named today in the Wales team to face the Pacific Islands on Saturday, is even better than he was at the equivalent age following his 13-point showing as a substitute in the 29-29 draw with Australia last weekend.

"He is way ahead of where I was at the same age," added Jenkins, now Wales' kicking coach.

"He will grow with more games and the older he gets he will just get better and better.

"At 21 years of age, in front of 70-odd thousand people against one of the best sides in the world, what more can you say? He kicked everything, but his all-round game was excellent."

Jenkins, who has coached Hook with his kicking over the last two seasons, believes the youngster has the mental assets to cope with being in the spotlight.

"He knows where we are going and what we need him to do in terms of his kicking," the 35-year-old said.

"He has progressed a long way in the last couple of years and I hope he will keep going in the same way."